Plastic beverage bottle with twist-off closure

• US 5,188,250 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft General Foods, Inc. (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Valls, William H., Kaufman, Richard H., Crescenzi, Donald C., Bostwick, Martin M., Kovacic, Theodore J., Bucaccio, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stucker, Nova
• Application Number:
  US07/893,612
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 215/1 C, 215/31, 215/32, 215/33, 215/35, 215/253, 215/254, 215/256, 215/305, 220/266, 220/276
• US Class Current: 215/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/067 Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/00 Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons calibrated capacity measures for fluids or fluent solid material G01F19/00; weighing spoons G01G19/56; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0238 Integral frangible closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/90 Collapsible wall structure

Abstract

A one-piece soft plastic bottle includes a generally cylindrical bottom portion and a tapered upper portion having a flexible tapered bellows at an upper end thereof. A short tapered top tapers outwardly and upwardly from the tapered bellows and includes a top end with a small aperture therein. A closure for the central aperture extends above the top end and is broken away by the user to expose the central aperture. The closure includes a cylindrical extension and large wings extending laterally and downwardly therefrom. Extending from the cylindrical extension is a filling tube which is crimped after filling to close the filling tube.

Claims

1. A one-piece plastic beverage bottle comprising:

an upstanding main bottom portion in which a beverage is contained;

a circular top extending upwardly from said main portion and centered about a central vertical axis, said top including a top end having a small, central aperture which extends through said top end; and

a closure for said central aperture of said top end, said closure including

a short neck piece extending upwardly from said top end and surrounding said aperture,

a vertical extension of said neck piece, and

planar wings extending laterally from said vertical extension on opposite sides thereof and extending vertically downwards from said vertical extension so as to be below said top end and laterally adjacent said top whereby said wings are twisted about the vertical axis to shear said neck piece and hence to open said aperture for drinking of the beverage in said main portion.

2. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wing portions are horizontally rippled for increased strength.

3. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 2 wherein each said wing is attached to said top by a connecting film.

4. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 3 wherein each said wing has an outer profile which is outwardly arc shaped.

5. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said closure has a planar profile which is greater than 11/4 inches across all diameters.

6. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical extension is hollow and includes a filling tube extending upwardly therefrom which is pinched closed after filling of said main portion with the beverage.

7. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said wing portions are horizontally rippled for increased strength.

8. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said beverage bottle is extrusion blow molded;

and wherein said wing portions are solid and are horizontally rippled and each said wing is connected to said top by a connecting film.

9. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said main portion includes a flexible, non-locking tapered bellows immediately adjacent said top, said bellows including alternating circumferential peaks and valleys.

10. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said neck piece includes a V shaped notch circumferentially thereabout and radially directed toward the vertical axis which makes said neck piece easily broken thereat by twisting of said wings.

11. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 10 wherein each said wing has an outer profile which is outwardly arc shaped.

12. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 11 wherein said closure has a planar profile which is greater than 11/4 inches across all diameters.

13. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said neck piece includes a V shaped notch circumferentially thereabout and radially directed toward the vertical axis which makes said neck piece easily broken thereat by twisting of said wings.

14. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 13 wherein said main portion includes a flexible, non-locking tapered bellows immediately adjacent said top, said bellows including alternating circumferential peaks and valleys.

15. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 14 wherein each said wing is additionally attached to said top by a connecting film which extends therebetween.

16. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said wings are horizontally rippled for increased strength.

17. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wing portions are solid and horizontally rippled.

18. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 17 wherein each said wing is connected to said top by a film.

19. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said wing is additionally attached to said top by a connecting film which extends therebetween.

20. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 19 wherein each said wing has an outer profile which is outwardly arc shaped.

21. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 20 wherein said closure has a planar profile which is greater than 11/4 inches across all diameters.

22. A beverage bottle as claimed in claim 21 wherein said main portion includes a flexible, non-locking tapered bellows immediately adjacent said top, said bellows including alternating circumferential peaks and valleys.